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The former Byrnes High star confirmed that he will skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft.

The cause for celebration that the 21-year-old does indeed look like he’ll at least be able to return to football in some capacity tempered any demonstrative emotional displays, but there was no mistaking the level of emotion inside the packed media room at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Lattimore was nine games into a successful return from ACL surgery last season on his left knee when he tore three ligaments (including the ACL) in his right knee Oct. 27 during the first half of a win over Tennessee.

“This has easily been the best three years of my life,” Lattimore said. “With that being said, I’m going to forgo my senior season and enter the 2013 NFL Draft. There was a lot of praying and a lot of discussions with my family and I feel like it’s the best decision for me. That’s what I said when I came here. I felt South Carolina was the best school for me.”

Lattimore sat at the podium nattily dressed in a black suit and red tie flanked by head coach Steve Spurrier and team doctor Jeffrey Guy. He thanked a long list of people — from his family, friends, fans and teammates to his surgical team, athletic trainers and academic staff. He then vowed to come back and earn his diploma.

“It is a plan of mine to come back and finish my degree. I really don’t have too much left. South Carolina is always going to be my home. I’m willing to come back here when my career is over and do whatever is asked of me. I love this state and I’m glad to say I’ll be a Gamecock forever. Thank you for all your continued support and God bless Gamecock nation.”

Spurrier, who has never shied away from voicing his disapproval when he believes one of his players has made a mistake by leaving school early, threw his full support behind Lattimore.

“I 100 percent agree that Marcus should turn pro,” Spurrier said. “We had a meeting last week where we all talked about it and we all understand. He’s done so much for this university, and at some point when you can really play this game the way Marcus can, you need to be financially rewarded and he’s paid his dues to go do that. History has shown that knee can come back full-go, just like his other knee (this past season).”

Lattimore finished his USC career as the school record-holder with both 38 rushing touchdowns and 41 overall, and his 2,677 rushing yards ranks sixth. He had no exact timetable for a return, saying it all depends on just how hard he works. But he said doctors told him the probability was 12 to 15 months.

During his first extended comments regarding Lattimore’s injury, Guy spoke in exact terms of what happened to the tailback’s knee. He said that as bas as the injury was, it could’ve been even more severe.

“Marcus injured three of the four ligaments in his knee. To be more specific, along the line of all the things we worry about, there we no fractures, no broken bones with his injury,” Guy said. “One of the things we always evaluate is whether or not someone with a multi-ligament injury or dislocation is getting enough blood supply and his blood vessels were totally normal. Probably the biggest thing that can affect your future is nerves, which can actually give you permanent paralysis in your lower leg and he never had a problem with any of that.”

Guy added that the only ligament that had to be totally reconstructed was the ACL, while the others were either reattached or supplemented and reattached. Lattimore also escaped a huge complication by having zero problems with his cartilage. Guy last gave him a full examination last week.

“He’s done absolutely perfect coming through the last four to five weeks and his knee looks great. He’s closing in on six weeks and he’s started walking. We spend more time trying to hold him back probably. All his ligaments are doing perfect and he’s on course for where he’s supposed to be right now. There are no plans for another surgery at this time and we’re looking forward to him progressing to playing football healthy.”

ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. acknowledged during a teleconference that if healthy, Lattimore was likely the lone first-round talent at tailback. Lattimore said he did not submit his name to the NFL Draft Advisory board and has no expectations as to what round he could go in the April draft.

“I really can’t say right now because the NFL doctors and all the guys on that side haven’t examined my knee.”

Lattimore said he’s received notes of inspiration from across the country and several NFL players had reached out to him, including star running backs Willis McGahee and Frank Gore, who both returned from severe knee injuries to reach NFL stardom. The similar message from both (regarding whether to turn pro early) was for Lattimore to “go with my instincts and go with my gut as to what I thought was best.”

He plans to attend February’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where he hopes to be jogging and catching some passes by then. That visit also will allow the classy and charismatic player to interview and spend time with NFL coaches and front office personnel. If Lattimore can affect those folks the way he did those at USC, he should prompt a team to take a risk come draft day.

“I really haven’t seen (an athlete in any sport) have the impact that Marcus has made here and it’s been truly incredible,” USC athletic director Ray Tanner said, his eyes moist with emotion. “And he doesn’t try and market himself like that and never has. He isn’t about that. I think some of the outpouring of support, as big as it’s been, has actually been embarrassing to him. He’s truly special and I’m excited the impact he’s made has been with the Gamecock family.”

<p>COLUMBIA — The lack of surprise regarding Wednesday's official announcement that South Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore had played his final collegiate snap didn't keep the tears from falling.</p><p>The former Byrnes High star confirmed that he will skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft.</p><p>The cause for celebration that the 21-year-old does indeed look like he'll at least be able to return to football in some capacity tempered any demonstrative emotional displays, but there was no mistaking the level of emotion inside the packed media room at Williams-Brice Stadium.</p><p>Lattimore was nine games into a successful return from ACL surgery last season on his left knee when he tore three ligaments (including the ACL) in his right knee Oct. 27 during the first half of a win over Tennessee.</p><p>“This has easily been the best three years of my life,” Lattimore said. “With that being said, I'm going to forgo my senior season and enter the 2013 NFL Draft. There was a lot of praying and a lot of discussions with my family and I feel like it's the best decision for me. That's what I said when I came here. I felt South Carolina was the best school for me.”</p><p>Lattimore sat at the podium nattily dressed in a black suit and red tie flanked by head coach Steve Spurrier and team doctor Jeffrey Guy. He thanked a long list of people — from his family, friends, fans and teammates to his surgical team, athletic trainers and academic staff. He then vowed to come back and earn his diploma.</p><p>“It is a plan of mine to come back and finish my degree. I really don't have too much left. South Carolina is always going to be my home. I'm willing to come back here when my career is over and do whatever is asked of me. I love this state and I'm glad to say I'll be a Gamecock forever. Thank you for all your continued support and God bless Gamecock nation.”</p><p>Spurrier, who has never shied away from voicing his disapproval when he believes one of his players has made a mistake by leaving school early, threw his full support behind Lattimore.</p><p>“I 100 percent agree that Marcus should turn pro,” Spurrier said. “We had a meeting last week where we all talked about it and we all understand. He's done so much for this university, and at some point when you can really play this game the way Marcus can, you need to be financially rewarded and he's paid his dues to go do that. History has shown that knee can come back full-go, just like his other knee (this past season).”</p><p>Lattimore finished his USC career as the school record-holder with both 38 rushing touchdowns and 41 overall, and his 2,677 rushing yards ranks sixth. He had no exact timetable for a return, saying it all depends on just how hard he works. But he said doctors told him the probability was 12 to 15 months.</p><p>During his first extended comments regarding Lattimore's injury, Guy spoke in exact terms of what happened to the tailback's knee. He said that as bas as the injury was, it could've been even more severe.</p><p>“Marcus injured three of the four ligaments in his knee. To be more specific, along the line of all the things we worry about, there we no fractures, no broken bones with his injury,” Guy said. “One of the things we always evaluate is whether or not someone with a multi-ligament injury or dislocation is getting enough blood supply and his blood vessels were totally normal. Probably the biggest thing that can affect your future is nerves, which can actually give you permanent paralysis in your lower leg and he never had a problem with any of that.”</p><p>Guy added that the only ligament that had to be totally reconstructed was the ACL, while the others were either reattached or supplemented and reattached. Lattimore also escaped a huge complication by having zero problems with his cartilage. Guy last gave him a full examination last week.</p><p>“He's done absolutely perfect coming through the last four to five weeks and his knee looks great. He's closing in on six weeks and he's started walking. We spend more time trying to hold him back probably. All his ligaments are doing perfect and he's on course for where he's supposed to be right now. There are no plans for another surgery at this time and we're looking forward to him progressing to playing football healthy.”</p><p>ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. acknowledged during a teleconference that if healthy, Lattimore was likely the lone first-round talent at tailback. Lattimore said he did not submit his name to the NFL Draft Advisory board and has no expectations as to what round he could go in the April draft.</p><p>“I really can't say right now because the NFL doctors and all the guys on that side haven't examined my knee.”</p><p>Lattimore said he's received notes of inspiration from across the country and several NFL players had reached out to him, including star running backs Willis McGahee and Frank Gore, who both returned from severe knee injuries to reach NFL stardom. The similar message from both (regarding whether to turn pro early) was for Lattimore to “go with my instincts and go with my gut as to what I thought was best.”</p><p>He plans to attend February's NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where he hopes to be jogging and catching some passes by then. That visit also will allow the classy and charismatic player to interview and spend time with NFL coaches and front office personnel. If Lattimore can affect those folks the way he did those at USC, he should prompt a team to take a risk come draft day.</p><p>“I really haven't seen (an athlete in any sport) have the impact that Marcus has made here and it's been truly incredible,” USC athletic director Ray Tanner said, his eyes moist with emotion. “And he doesn't try and market himself like that and never has. He isn't about that. I think some of the outpouring of support, as big as it's been, has actually been embarrassing to him. He's truly special and I'm excited the impact he's made has been with the Gamecock family.”</p>